Car-washing apparatus



Feb. 7, 1928. 1,658,473 F. ACKERMAN CAR WASHING APPARATUS Filed April 21. 1926 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l a i'fllr ATTOPMCX;

Feb. 7, 928.

F. ACKERMAN I GAR WASHING APPARATUS Filed April 21. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A I Y Llrliy Patented Feb. 7, 1928 UNITED STATES FRANK ACKERMAN,

COMPANY, OF WELL STOIL MISSOURI,

OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR 'I'O CURTIS MANUFACTURING A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

OAR-WASHING APPARATUS.

Application filed April 21, 1926. Serial No. oaaoo.

This invention relates to washing apparatus of the type that comprises a nozzle from which a mixture of liquid and compressed air is discharged onto or into the ob]ect being cleaned.

One object of m invention is to provide a practicable washing apparatus by which an automobile, motor truck or other vehicle can be washedquickly, thoroughly and without liability of injuring the finish of the vehicle. 1

- Another object of the invention is to provide a washing apparatus capable of use for various purposes, which is of such construction that the operator in charge of same can adjust --it quickly and easily to change the stream discharged from the character of the 1 mixing nozzle and thus obtain a stream that effectively is exceptionally efiicient for cleaning the particular thing being operated on,

Another object of the invention is to provide a washing apparatus, which, in addition to having the desirable characteristics above pointed out, is compact and of sufficiently rugged construction to insure its standing up successfull under rough treatment and continuous usage.

And still another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle for washing apparatus which is of such construction that it will mix compressed air and a liquid in such a manner as to produce an air mist that has great penetrating properties and which will remove dirt from an object or surface 'wlthout liability of injuring said object or surface.

' that each drop by the air into tiny To this end I have devised an apparatus that comprises an air compressor, a ump preferably of the turbine type that wi 1 deiver a stream of liquid of a certain approximate pressure, irrespective of the pressure of the source of supply, an electric motor or other suitable driving means for actuating said pump and compressor, nozzle to which a liquid under pressure and compressed air are supplied, designed so of liquid will be atomized is surrounded by a $100k absorbin cushion of air, thereby producing a power ul, penetrating mist that will effectively remove dirt or other foreign matter from the object being cleaned, without injuring the object or the finish of same, an operating valve by which the operator in charge of the apparaa mixing articles, each of which tus can control the suppl of liquid to the mixing nozzle, anda supp y valve which the operator can actuate so as to cause either clear water or a cleaning solution to be supplied to the pump. The compressor is prefof the water-cooled type and is comerabliy 'bine with a radiator that is connected to the intake of the pump, and the operating valve s so constructed and arranged that when 1t is set in its closed position to cut off the supply of liquid to the mixin nozzle, the water in the coolin system of 518 compressor circulates free y without creating any back pressure, thereby causing the pump of the mixing nozzle.

Figure 4: is an enlarged side elevational view of the supply valve; and

Figure 5 is 'anenlar ed side elevational view of the operating va ve.

Referring to the drawin s which illustrate the preferred form 0 my invention, A deslgnates an air compressor preferably of the water-cooled type, B designates a radlator for dissipating the heat generated in said compressor when it is in operation, C designates an electric motor or other source of power that is used to drive a belt D, that passes around a pulley on the crank shaft 0 the compressor, E designates an automatic belt tightener for said belt, F designates a water pump, preferably of the turbine type, that is directly connected with the drive shaft of said electric motor, and G designates a storage tank into which the compressor A discharges, the compressor be ing provided with a governor H that automatically cutsofl the supply of compressed air to the storage tank G when a certain pressure is created in said tank and which automatically resumes the supply of air to said tank when the pressure in same drops below a certain approximate degree.

' pipe 2 of the pump The intake pipe 1 of the water pump F leads from a supply valve I and the discharge pipe 2 of said pump leads to an operatin valve J, the radiator B that forms part 0 the cooling system of the compressor eing connected with the intake pipe 1 of the ump. The supply valve I is preferabl of the three-way typxe and is provided witi a control handle 3 t at is adapted to be set in one position to cause clear water to pass from a supply. pipe the water pump set in a different position so as to cause soapy water or a cleaning solution to be su plied to the take pipe of the water pump t on h a pipe 5 that communicates witha barre or container K which holds soapy water or some other suitable cleaning solution; and set in still a different position to cause clear water to pass from the supply pipe 4 into the intake of the pump and also into the pipe 5 so as to fill the barrel K. To facilitate setting the control handle of the suppl valve I in the desired position, said handle is arranged in proximlty to a visual indicator 3 that is marked with the words From water main, From barrel and Fill barrel, so as to indicate the three different positions of said control handle.

The operatingl the passage of t valve J is used to govern e li uid from the'dischar e to a pipe 6 that lea s to a mixing nozzle L to which com ressed air is supp 'ed by a pipe 7 that lea s from the compressed air revervoir G. This operating valve J is also provided with a control handle 8 that is adapted to be set in three diiferent positions, i. e., a closed osition, wherein it cuts oil the passage 0 the liquld from the discharge pipe 2 of the pump into the pipe 6 that leads to the nozzle L;

a wide open position, wherein it permits the entire output of the pum to pass freely into the pipe 6; and a part y open position, wherein it permits approximately one-half the volume of liquid flowing through the pump dischar e pipe 2 to pass into the pipe 6 leading to t e nozzle. When the control handle 8 of the operating valve is in its closed position, all of the water flowing through the discharge pipe 2 of the pump will be introduced into the radiator B, and when said control handle is in its partly open position, approximately one-half the volume of water flowing through the discharge pipe 2 from the pump will pass into the radiator and the remainder of said water will pass into the water supply pipe 6 which leads to the nozzle L. Consequently, when the control handle of the operating valve J is in its fully closed position, the water in the cooling required to operate the water pump F. To

4 to the intake pipe of stem of the compressor will circulate free y without producing any back pressure, and practically no power will be teasers facilitate setting the control handle 8 of the operating valve in the desired position, said should be set so as to produce a stream that is most suitable for the particular portion of the car being washed. The compressed air supply pipe 7 and the water supply pipe 6 through which compressed air and water are conducted to the nozzle L are provided with flexible extensions 7? and 6 to which said nozzle is connected, so as to enable the noz zle, which is held in the hand of the operator, to be manipulated easily. The compressed air supply pipe 7 is provided with a valve 9 that is adapted to be closed when the apparatus is not in use and set in its wide open position when the apparatus is in use.

The nozzle L differs from the nozzles heretofore used in washing apparatus that employ compressed air to atomize a liquid and force it against the object being cleaned, in that the mixing chamber 10 of the nozzle is provided with an orifice 11 of a predetermined size through which the mixture of air and. liquidis discharged from the nozzle. When the apparatus is in operation air under a fixed pressure and water under a lesser, fixed pressure are fed into the mixing chamber 19 of the nozzle simultaneously. The air builds up a back pressure in the mixing chamber and intermingles with the water, and the mixture of air and water then escapes from the mixing chamber through the orifice 11, thereby producing a powerful, penetrating air mist of relatlvely high velocity in which the water is in the form of fine droplets surrounded by shock absorbing cushions of air. Notwithstanding the fact that the stream of air and water which cscapes from the nozzle has a relatively high ve ocity and therefore great penetrating power, it is not harsh or destructive and will effectively remove dirt and road oil from an automobile without injuring the finish of same.

In most instances the compressor A will be allowed to operate continuously so as to keep the reservoir Gr charged with compressed air that can be used for inflating tires or for various other purposes. At

such times the control handle of the operatdrivin means C. When the apparatus is to be used for washing a' carlor other object, it is the usual custom to set the control handle of the operating valve J in its wide open .position and set the water supply valve 1 so that soapy water or any other c caning solution which may be in the barrel. K Wlll. be drawn from said barrel by the water pump F and forced through the pipe 6 into operator shifts the control handle of the. water supply valveIinto such a POSliJIOII that clear water will be admitted from the water supply pipe 4 to the water pump F, thereby causing the nozzle to discharge an air mist composed of particles of clear water surrounded by cushions of air, that is particularly effective for rinsing ofi the chassis. In the operation of cleaning the body of the car, the control handle of the operating handle J is set in its partlyopen position, so'as to cause part of the water from the discharge pipe 2 of the pump to be admitted to the water supply pipe 6 leading to the nozzle and the remainder of the water from the pump discharge pipe to be directed into the-radiator B of the compressor cooling system. The stream which escapes from the nozzle when the operating valve is set in its' partly open position will also consistofa stream of air and water in which the particles of water are surrounded by shock absorbing cushions of air, but the pressure of said stream will be materially reduced, as it is not necessary or desirable to use a stream of so high a pressure in cleaning the body of the car. At some period during the washing operation the operator sets theeontrol handle of the water supply valve I in its intermediate position or Fill barrel position, so as to cause clear water from the-citymain supply pipe 4 to pass through thelpipe 5 into the barrel K and fill same. At the completion of the washing r operation-the" operator moves the handle of] the operating-valve J into its closedposie' tion, audit-desired, the valve 9 in the comf pressedfair supplypipe'Z can be left open,

so as to se of the'cai' tlifat'cannot be easily wiped 0:5 or dried with aj chamois.

I h' we described my improved apbeing primarily adapted fbr use asa-mech I claim as new and desire the, stream of ai r that emerges from th' nozzle Lto dry, inaccessible parts 7 understood that it is not limited to this particular use, as an air mist of the character produced by the mixingnozzle oi the apparatus is exceptionally efiicient for cleaning bottles and other ob ects. Moreover, while I prefer to equip the apparatuswith a pump of the turbine type for feeding a liquid under pressure to the mixing nozzle, any other suitable type of pump can be used and any suitable type of driving means can be used for operating the pump and the compressor.

Having thus described my invention, what to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A Washing apparatus, comprising a mixing nozzle, means for supplying air under pressure to said nozzle, a pump for feedin va ve for controlling the admission of the liquid to the nozzle, a container for holding a cleaning solution, a source of clear water supply, and a supply valve under control of the operator in charge of the apparatus that is adapted to be manipulated to cause clear a liquid to said nozzle, an operating water to be admitted to said pump or cause the cleaning solution to be admitted to said pump from said container or to cause clear water to be admitted to said container from the source of clear water supply.

2. A washing apparatus, comprising a water-cooled air compressor, a radiator which forms part of the cooling system of said compressdr, a mixing nozzle to which compressed air is adapted to be supplied, a pump for feeding a liquid to said nozzle arranged so as to induce a circulation in said cooling system, and'an operating valve for governing the admission of the liquid to the mixing nozzle arranged so that when it is in its closed position said pump will circulate the water in the cooling system of the compressor without creating a back pressure.

3. A washing apparatus, comprising a water-cooled air compressor, a radiator that forms part of the cooling system of said compressor, a turbine water pump whose in take is connected with said coollng system, a means for driving saidpump andcom-M pressor, a mixing nozzle to -which compressed air is adapted to be supplied, awater supply pipe leading to'said nozzle, and an operating; valve for controlling the supply ofiwater 'tothe'mixing nozzle, arranged so that-it can be set in a position to direct all ora portion of the output of the pump into "the cooling system of the compressor.

A washing apparatus, comprising a water-cooled air compressor, a radiator that forms part of the cooling system of said compressor, a turbine water pump whose intake is connected with said cooling system, a means, for driving said pump and compressor, a mixing nozzle to which compressed air is adapted to be supplied, an opcrating valve adapted to be set so as to tainer to be admitted to the pump "and in still a difierent position to cause clear water to be supplied to said container and also to the intake of the pump.

5. A Washing apparatus, comprising a water-cooled vair compressor, a radiator which forms part of the cooling system of said compressor, a motor, a belt for transmitting movement from said motor to said compressor, a turbine Water pump directly connected with said motor and having its intake connected with the cooling system of the compressor, an operating valve adapmd to be set in one position to permit Water to escape freely from the discharge of said pump to a mixing nozzle, in a difierent position to cause part of the discharge from said pump to be admitted to the nozzle and the remainder to be admitted to the cooling system of the compressor and in a third posit-ion to cause the entire discharge of the .nump to be directed into said'cooling system, a container for holding a cleaning sodution, and a manually-operable supply valve by which the operator in charge of the apparatus can admit clear water to said pump or cause the solution from said container to be admitted to the pump or to cause clear Water to be supplied to saidcontainer and also to said pump.

FRANK ACKERMAN. 

